Servant of Earth

When Kenna’s only friend is chosen in an antiquated ceremony to be the next sacrificed woman (under the pretense of serving mythical Fae beings), Kenna is desperate to save her. But when Kenna finds herself in the fabled land of Mistei and in service to one of the Fae houses, she gets wrapped up in courtly schemes and romances, a telepathic dagger with a taste for blood, and in covertly assisting her new mistress in a series of trials led by a sadistic tyrant that will result in life or death for not only the Fae but for Kenna as well. Fans of Hawley’s “Glimmer Falls” paranormal romance series will find a welcome surprise with the author’s pivot to dark fantasy. There’s some mental heavy lifting (readers must learn Hawley’s extensive Fae lore and keep track of a daunting number of names and relationships), but the worldbuilding is captivating. Heed the book’s trigger warnings, but Hawley’s skill with pacing to keep readers motivated truly shines.